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A biweekly and breaking e-newsletter from WELS
A refreshed logo, with a cross and
Bible in the forefront, demonstrates
NPH’s resolve to carry out its
mission to deliver biblically sound
Christ-centered resources within
WELS and beyond. “The updated
logo symbolizes what NPH is
doing,” says Ziche. “We’re staying
true to our roots in what we do
and true to our mission and calling,
but at the same time we’re making
sure that we’re fresh and relevant
in today’s world.”
TOGETHER
October 7, 2014
CMO gifts show increase
C
ongregation Mission Offerings (CMO) for September totaled
$1,718,829, an increase of more than $280,000 (plus 19.5 percent)
over the previous year. Year to date, CMO receipts are $14,283,643
compared to $13,945,002 at the same point in 2013. This represents an
increase of 2.4 percent.
Job Opportunity
The WELS Center for Mission
and Ministry, Waukesha, Wis.,
is currently seeking a Benefits
Specialist. Learn more at wels.
net/human-resources.
Did you know...
WELS has a Facebook page?
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welslutherans
WELS has Twitter?
www.twitter.com/welstweets
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instagram.com/welslutherans
WELS is mobile?
WELS offers a mobile applicaton
for the iOS and Android cell
phone platforms. Get the app
at www.wels.net/mobile
To sign up for the e-mail version, visit
www.wels.net/together.
Overall, congregations are keeping pace with their commitments through
September, with total gifts representing 101 percent of what was committed.
We thank God for moving his people to share so generously in their gifts
to support the work we do together as a synod. We can also thank our
congregations, members, and called workers for their faithfulness in their
stewardship efforts.
As we enter the time of year when many congregations are emphasizing our
God-given mission, this news can be a wonderful reminder not only of God’s
continuing gracious work among us but also of the many opportunities he is
giving us to take the saving gospel to as many people as possible.
Serving with you in Christ,
President Mark Schroeder
Annual symposium looks at preaching
O
n Sept. 22-23, 400 pastors and
students attended the annual
symposium at Wisconsin Lutheran
Seminary, Mequon, Wis. The topic of
this year’s symposium was preaching.
Rev. Paul Wendland, seminary
president, opened the symposium
by reminding those in attendance
of the importance of the words they
speak. “Words often seem like an
insubstantial thing. They are spoken.
They are heard. Then they are
gone,” he said. “But not this Word.
Jesus’ words are spirit. They are life.
Heaven and earth may pass away,
but Jesus’ words do not. We are
privileged to speak those words.”
Three speakers then addressed how
21st-century Lutheran preachers can
clearly proclaim law and gospel in
our rapidly changing, increasingly
diverse, and biblically illiterate culture.
In the first essay, Rev. Michael
Jensen, St. Mark, Watertown, Wis.,
looked at how pastors can trace
their preaching roots to Jesus. He
shared, “The Messiah shows us
what our preparation and preaching
is to be. Like our Messiah, we do
not come to announce law-based
tips for better living. We come
to announce something other
worldly, something that cannot be
known or experienced apart from
God’s proclamation. To proclaim
this gospel is our sole reason for
entering the pulpit.”
Presenting the second paper, Rev.
Andrew Bauer, New Life, Lake
Zurich, Ill., traced the history of
some famous American Evangelical
preachers and their emphases and
styles. “For people whose activity
of ‘preaching’ is so closely bound
up with who we are, namely
‘preachers,’ it is a given that we will
be interested in our craft, interested
about hearing preaching in our
circles and other circles, interested
in learning what others have done,
giving thanks for the good while
marking the bad,” he shared.
background. As Lutheran preachers,
we will want to gain insight in
how to speak with such an everchanging culture in a way that
communicates as clearly as possible
God’s unchanging truth and the
gospel of our Lord and Savior.”
All the papers and reactions are
available at http://wlsce.net/
symposium and archived video of
the essays can be found at http://
new.livestream.com/welslive.
New HR director at WELS
M
r. Dennis Maurer has been
named director of Human
Resources for WELS.
Maurer began serving at the WELS
Center for Mission and Ministry
in Waukesha, Wis., Oct. 1. He
oversees the personnel functions
for the synod and is responsible for
the implementation of personnel
policies, recruitment, compensation,
For the final presentation of the
benefits, performance management,
symposium, Rev. Phillip Sievert, Lord
and employee relations. Human
of Life, Thornton, Colo., looked at
Resources also serves as a resource
today’s culture and how it affects
to WELS congregations and to
both the preacher and the listener.
affiliated groups and entities. “I’m
“Twenty centuries after Peter
here to help with any day-to-day
proclaimed the gospel on the streets
issue that may arise,” says Maurer.
of Jerusalem and Paul preached on
“I look forward to assisting our
the streets of Athens, the world we
congregations and schools with
live in and the people to whom we
their questions.”
preach, are becoming more and
more influenced by a post-Christian The outgoing director of Human
Resources, Mr. Todd Scott, accepted
landscape,” he said. “In a way, we
a
similar position for Washington
are moving from an Acts 2 cultural
County
in Wisconsin in July after
context to an Acts 17 setting; from
two
years
of service to the synod.
a world shaped by Christianity to a
world that is pushing Christianity
Maurer has held senior human
further and further into the
resources management positions
the past 17 years for Rockwell
Automation and Telsmith, Inc. He
is excited to share his knowledge
with the synod. “I couldn’t ask for a
more worthwhile position in human
resources than to support and
assist the people who are serving
our Lord,” says Maurer. “The
synod, and my church in particular,
has been very good to me and
my family over the years, and the
opportunity to serve my Lord in this
position appeals to me greatly.”
NPH has called two new editors
to continue to look at new ways
to address the spiritual needs of
people today. Rev. Dan Schroeder
will be working to refresh existing
Bible studies and to create new
ones that are relevant in today’s
world. In a newly established
position, Rev. Christopher Doerr will
be focusing on creating resources to
reach newer Christians within WELS
as well as those who may or may
not be Christian outside WELS.
Maurer, a member of St. John’s,
Wauwatosa, Wis., is married (Lois)
with four children: a son at UWMadison; a son in his senior year at
Wisconsin Lutheran High School;
Milwaukee, Wis.; and nine-year-old
twins, a boy and a girl.
Using electronic means to distribute
its products is another way NPH is
looking to reach a wider audience
as well as meet the needs of its
longtime customers. Over 110
new, best-selling, and classic NPH
book titles are available as e-books,
and Meditations, a collection of
daily devotions and prayers, is now
available as an Apple app. Since its
release in March, more than 16,500
people from 138 countries have
downloaded the Meditations app to
take advantage of this daily dose of
God’s Word.
Relevant yet true to its roots
N
“
orthwestern Publishing House
materials . . . lift your spirits
and keep you focused on Christ for
your hope,” says Rev. Gary Pufahl,
pastor at Christ, Big Bend, Wis.
Pufahl is one of several
Northwestern Publishing House
(NPH) customers who were featured
in a new video that highlights the
impact NPH has on those it serves.
Congregations recently received
a copy of this video that shares
how God works through NPH, the
synod’s publishing house since 1891.
“NPH remains the trusted publisher
for WELS,” says Mr. Bill Ziche, NPH
president. “We’re working hard to
fulfill that and to make sure we’re
meeting people’s needs.”
Besides creating new products, NPH
is working to let people know about
its wide array of materials that is
already available. Congregations
and schools can host book fairs in
which NPH will ship a customizable
selection of materials to the church,
literally bringing the Milwaukee
store to any location. NPH itself is
hosting weekly and monthly events
at its Milwaukee store to reach out
in its community. “Whether [our
neighbors] are church members
or not, we have an opportunity to
reach them with the Word through
our ministry at NPH,” says Ziche.